However, yesterday local blog U Street Dirt had a post yesterday about JBG’s plans for a hotel: “Hotel at 13th and U? Naah. How About Rentals?” The post asked whether JBG is changing its mind about its plans for the spot. Emails to JBG and their spokespersons late yesterday afternoon were not returned. This morning Washington City Paper‘s Housing Complex blog had a piece on the possible switch to rentals from a hotel, with a comment from JGB’s Matthew Blocher that they are essentially still exploring mixed uses for the site. Apparently more info is to come on April 10 at JBG presentation at Busboys & Poets.

Basically, if you’re already concerned about parking in the area, things could very well get much busier in a hurry… or in a bit of time, if we know the local approval processes involved for several of the bigger deliveries. But then again, it also seems that many of the new residents in the area do not own cars. Am I right?

From Tom Hay. Questions for Tom? Send him an email at Tom[AT]borderstan.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Tomonswann..

Following on the heels of recent press releases of new restaurants and bars in the neighborhood comes the inevitable protest hearings on the granting of a liquor license by DC’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).

One battle, over a planned bar near 8th and T streets NW, has made it to the evening news. WJLA reported on neighborhood opposition to entrepreneur David Batista’s effort to open All Souls in a now abandoned storefront at 725 T Street NW.

Neighbors interviewed in the report cited the proposed tavern’s proximity to Cleveland Elementary School across the street as the cause for concern. The report indicates that Batista has agreed not to serve alcohol during school hours, but the protesters are not satisfied.

Batista is represented by Andrew Kline who guided Jamie Leeds through the effort to expand Hank’s Oyster Bar in 2010. The ABRA hearing before the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for All Souls is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at 4 pm. ABRA offices are located in the Reeves Center at 14th and U Streets NW.

Protest Over Kuller’s New Asian Themed Place at The District

Speaking of 14th Street… the liquor license application for Mark Kuller’s Southeast Asian themed restaurant at 14th and S Streets is being challenged by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2B, subject to a voluntary agreement (VA) to address parking and hours of alcohol service on their outdoor patio. The vote to protest the application occurred at the ANC2B March meeting. Kuller’s latest venture is a few blocks north of his popular Estadio restaurant, and will be part of the large JBG apartment building currently under construction. The restaurant will be located in the portion of the project that includes the preserved facade of the former Whitman Walker Clinic building. The setback along the S Street facade will allow for outdoor cafe seating for 40 people.

Restaurateur Mark Kuller will have a new spot on 14th Street in the residential-retail project under construction between Swann and S Streets NW.(Luis Gomez Photos)

From Alejandra Owens. You can find her at her food blog, One Bite At A Time. Alejandra also writes for City Eats DC, a Food Network site, where you can book dinner reservations. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @frijolita.

The 14th Street corridor just keeps on growing. As it grows up, up and up, smart entrepreneurs and restauranteurs like Mark Kuller snatch it up for their own ventures.

You probably don’t know much about Kuller. You might have heard of his chef/partner in food crime, Haidar Karoum. But you’ve definitely heard of his master of libations, Adam Bernbach. I’ve never met Kuller myself, but I’ve dined and drank at his restaurants many times — Estadio and Proof — and they are probably among my top 5 favorite places in DC.

“Chef Karoum and I, and the rest of our team, are grateful for the fervor with which our Logan Circle neighbors have embraced Estadio and are excited to launch our second restaurant on 14 th Street,” Kuller told me via email. “Chef and I share a love for the cuisine of mainland Southeast Asia and we hope to create a unique neighborhood restaurant which showcases, on an affordable and accessible basis, the diverse styles and flavors of this region.”

When opening Estadio, Kuller and team has a keen interest in getting Spanish style, or at least inspired, food right, I have faith that Kuller and his team won’t disappoint with this new venture.